I have decided to begin dieting today. And i have done pretty well. I have planned on eating nothing after dinner, not even drinking wine.

And what do you know, hubby and daughter are in the kitchen right now making a batch of brownies.

The family shouldn't be punished because i can't control myself, both of them stay active and can afford to eat brownies.

How does a person resist?

My only plan is to stay busy with other stuff. I'm going to drink another bottle of water, keep reading 3FC posts, maybe take a bath.

This is really a test for a chocolate lover like me.

Any advice?

Having snacks available for yourself could really help at a time like this, so you don't feel deprived. Try Kashi or Luna bars, since they're good, full of good things, and are kind of like a cookie/brownie. Maybe dig around for yummy low-cal/low-fat dessert recipes to make with them.

I think a bath is great, because you obviously can't get into the brownies while you're in there. Maybe they can wrap up the brownies (contain that smell!) and put them away somewhere and not tell you where.

go ahead and eat a brownie, it probaly has less calories than a luna bar . Just because you start a diet doesnt mean you cant still have a dessert.

I agree with both posts above And I'm sorry-- willpower tests at their best!!!

Wormwooddoll made the great suggestion of finding treats that you can all eat together! I, personally, really like No Pudge Fudge (which is actually brownie mix). If you have troubles with portion control, you can do a single serving, or if you feel more inclined, you can make the whole box!

Good luck, and you'll always have support when you need it!

NO!
If i eat one brownie, it will make me want another.
I can't give in.
If i give in to the brownie tonight i will feel like a loser and go into this nosedive of binging.
I tend to do that within the first week of every diet.

Look at me, giving myself advice.

I don't believe in "starting a diet". See, if you "start" a diet, that implies that at some point you "stop" a diet. And what happens when you stop? You gain back all that weight because you haven't made any permanent changes.

I'm also of the belief that if you deprive yourself of the things you want and the things you love, then you're setting yourself up for failure. Because eventually you're going to FEEL deprived, and then you're going to give up and say "to **** with it".

I don't diet. I eat healthily 80% of the time and the other 20% of the time I let myself have a few treats or indulgences.

That means that I look at the calories I've consumed for the day and I see if I can have a brownie. If I can, I do. Or even 1/2 a brownie. And I enjoy it. If I can't have one tonight, I make room in my calories for one tomorrow - maybe for a morning snack. And then I have something to look forward to. Really, one brownie? One brownie is about 180 calories. Most people can fit that in as a snack if they really really really want it.

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One of the wisest women on this website - kaplods - has a saying:

If you trip on the top step, do you throw yourself down the rest of the stairs in defeat?

If you have one brownie why does that make you a loser? Is it worth destroying everything over one brownie? Think about it. When the meaning really sinks in you'll have made a huge amount of mental and emotional progress.

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I know I couldn't stop at one little brownie. Maybe find some SF gum to chew tonight and make plans to send the brownies to work with your husband or school with your daughter in the morning.

Photochick,
I understand what you are saying about not really being on a diet, about how it is really about making a lifestyle change.
My point is that i am too early in the lifestyle changing process to be able to resist eating more than one brownie.
That if i am going to resist binging, i need to resist those foods that cause binging, high carbs are a major binge trigger for me.
The reason i would consider myself a loser is because i have already met my calorie quota and i had planned to not eat anything else tonight after dinner.

I really appreciate the thoughtfulness from everyone.

Ido understand about trigger foods - sour cream and onion potato chips are not allowed in my house becuase I'll eat the whole bag.

But I'll stand by the idea that you need to ditch the "loser" terminology and mindset. Even if you do wind up having a brownie or even if you do wind up slipping up - not now, but later. Any time. Eating something that isn't healthy doens't make you a "loser". Thinking it does only gives you an excuse to say "well, since I'm a loser I might as well just eat whatever I want and be fat."

Well over 1/2 the battle is making the emotional and mental changes you need to keep you going. Not thinking of yourself as a loser is a big part of that.

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Good advice, i will work on the loser mentality.
I'm sure that has been part of my problem.

PhotoChick is right even if you do binge on brownies tonight...then you just get up tomorrow and get back on your program.

If you really love chocolate do what a freind of mine does. She buys individually wrapped Dark Chocolate and has one every night as her daily treat.

I agree that you can still have dessert while on a diet, but if you're like me.....one brownie will lead to another, and possibly other bad food. i would opt for the bath or maybe a fiber one bar. try to keep yourself occupied with other things. good luck, thats a hard one.

Pamper, pamper, pamper! Give yourself something super special (but not food related) to reassure your spirit that you are worth MORE than just some no-good, carb laden, binge-triggering brownie! Yes- YOU are worth...a hot bath with millions of bubbles, followed by a pedicure with peppermint foot lotion, followed by a 30 minute massage with chocolate scented oil from your special sweetie, followed by reading a great new book in bed wearing your favorite soft jammies. See, doesn't that sound devine? The trick (for me, at least) is to have these special mini-splurges easily available instead of food treats. Start planning your indulgences right now- the more the better! Good luck!